Dam construction



Jan. 19,1932. R. R. LUN

DAM CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 21, 1930 Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE ROWLAND RESCUE LUN, OF LEWISBUBG, TENNESSEE DAM CONSTRUCTION This invention relates to improvements in superdam construction and comprises a. plurality of pivoted boards formed of metal, wood, or other material arranged across the top of the dam in a stepped fashion having tripping means operable upon by the flow of the water for releasing the pivoted boards or barriers and allowing the same to collapse whereby the water will be released. The invention also comprises a trigger bar for each flashboard having one of its ends pivotally mounted on the top of the dam and its other end pivotally secured to the upper portion of the fiashboard adapted to be engaged by the tripping mechanism which includes a pocket-ed device for each fiashboard pivotally supported by the upper wall of the dam pro vided with lugs presented in the path of the trigger bars whereby movement of the pocketed device caused by the water flow will release the trigger bars, which in turn will allow the individual fiashboards to be collapsed. Further, the invention comprises a spillway at one end of the flashboards having 2 an adjustable top in order that the overflow may be regulated overnight and during rain.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character adapted to hold the water adjacent the top of the banks of the dam without any danger of overflow whereby a high water level relative to the banks may be maintained to double the power derived from the water pressure, also to entirely eliminate food menace.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dam construction of the character described adapted to automatically release the excess water maintained by the dam in emergencies to prevent damage to the dam caused by floods.

Another object of this invention is to provide a series of fiashboards extending across the top of the dam in a stepped arrangement having adjoining packing strips for forming a water tight joint between the adjacent flashboards. V

Heretofore, it has been common practice to provide flashboards extending across the top of a dam construction having mechanical means for releasing the same in case of a flood such as hand operated shafts and levers for operating chains and causing the same to trip the flashboard.

The above practice is objectionable due to a the necessity of a manual power required at all times to look after the flashboard and operate the same and it has been found that this type of flashboard is not positive in its operation due to the many hazards caused by a complicated construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description forming a part of this specification and in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal rear elevation showing the dam partly in section and the stepped arrangement of each fiashboard.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken on lines 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the flashboard in its normal or raised position and illustrating the positions of the tripping devices and the releasing trigger.

' Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view along the lines 22 of Figure 1 illustrating the fiashboard and tripping mechanism in'its collapsed posit-ion.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross section taken on lines 4-4L of Figure 2 illustrating in detail the packing strip attached to the lateral edge of one fiashboard and overlapping the joint formed by the lateral edge of an adjacent flashboard.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein like reference characters are employed to designate cor responding parts through the same, the reference character A will generally be employed todesignate a dam extending across a stream or river having a cutaway portion B. The floor of the cutaway portion is bevelled as at 5 having its highest top edge presented to the flow of water.

Adjacent one edge of the cutaway port-ion B is provided a spillway G which may be a continuation in part of the dam A and may be provided with a vertical face D and an inclined rear wall E. The upper wall F may be. provided with an adjustable top G hingedly secured to the forward. portion of the top F by means of suit-able hinges H. A series of flashboards 6 arranged in a stepped fashion are pivotally secured to the top edge of the cutaway portion B and it will be noted that the flashboard 6 adjacent the spillway C is higher than the flashboard adjacent the opposite dam wall.

This is to allow an overflow at the spillway C without tripping the flashboards. In case of rains or when it is desired to regulate the overflow passed the spillway the adjustable top G may be raised or lowered by suitable mechanism not shown for increasing or de creasin the overflow.

The ashboards 6 are pivotally secured to the forward edge of the cutaway portion B as at 7 to anchoring bolts 8 which are embedded in the concrete floor 5 in any suitable fashion. As clearly illustrated in Figure 1 the flashboards are arranged in a stepped fashion whereby one of the flashboards may be tripped and the remaining fiashboards tripped in succession in order that a small or light rain or a gradual rise will only release or trip one of the flashboards while the remaining flashboards may be intact in a vertical position, to maintain the high head of water. As the flood continues to rise and gradually increases in height the flashboards will be automatically tripped in succession and in accordance with the water level until a high flood is reached whereby all of the flashboards will be tripped and will be moved to a collapsed position, permittin the stream to pass thereover unobstructed tl iereby relieving the overflow by backwater. Each flashboard is provided on its front face with com lementary vertically extending chambered edges 9 for receiving rubber packing strips 10 adapted to be held in place in one vertical chambered edge by means of a rivet 11 whereby the free egge will overlap the adjacent chambered e e.

iormed on the rear wall of each flashboard 6 is a horizontally extending shelf 12 positioned between the top and bottom edges of the flashboard which is adapted to be overlap ed by a similar shelf 13, formed integral wit a trap board 14, at the lower edge thereof and extending at right angles thereto. The trap boards 14 are hingedly carried by side bars 15 having their upper ends connected to the trap boards 14 by rivets or the like while the lower ends are pivotally secured to anchoring bolts 16 as at 17. There may be provided a trap board 14 for each flashboard 16 as illustrated in Figure 1 having their shelves 13 overlapping the flashboard shelves 12 to form a pocket or water trap 18 illustrated in Figure 2 when the flashboards are in their operative position.

Pivoted brace bars are provided for retaining the trap boards 14 in their raised position and includes a pair of arcuately curved links 19 and 20 hinged as at 21 to fold in one direction. One end of each of the links 19 are pivotally attached to the vertical side bars 15 at 25 While the opposite ends of the links 20 are pivotally secured to anchor bolts 22 as at 23.

It is to be understood that a pair of brace bars including links 19 and 20 may be provided for each vertical side bar 15 or only one set of links may be employed for holding the trap boards in their normal position.

Carried by each side bar 15 is a tripping lug 24 in a line of travel with the brace link 19 whereby movement of the side bars 15 caused by the enlar ement of the trap chamber 18 will cause tie lugs 24 to engage the links 19 for tripping the brace bars and releasing the flashboards 6 retained thereby to allow the body of water to be released.

It will be noted that by forming the brace bars 19 and 20 in a curved manner the hinge joint 21 is out of alignment with the pivot points 23 and 25 thereby making it more difficult to trip the brace bars 19 and 20 until the water in the trap 18 has reached a predetermined level. It is also to be noted that water trap shelves 12 and 13 are spaced apart in order to allow seepage of water therethrough to a certain degree to preventrain filling and tripping or ice freezing or locking the trigger mechanism.

When the flashboards are in their tripped position as illustrated in Figure 2 the water shelves 13 fall below the flashboards 6 to prevent timber and other foreign matter from collecting on the water shelves 13 and causing damage to the mechanism.

Each trapboard 14 is adapted to extend above the top edge of the flashboards for col lecting the overflow from the flashboards whereby the water will maintain a level in the trap 18 until an excessive amount of water impinges against the flashboard wherebly the trap 18 will fill with water and cause t e trap boards 14 to move away from the flashboards, allowing the lugs 24 to engage the links 19 and release the flashboards and water.

It is to be understood that the above structure described and disclosed including the fiashboards and tripping mechanism may be positioned on any form of dam construction formed of concrete, wood, or any other desired material and may be positioned in any desired manner.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention illustrated is to be taken as the preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A dam construction of the character described, comprising a concrete or wood barrier extending across a stream or channelway having a recess formed in the concrete barrier, said recess having an angular top wall extending upwardly, a series of flashboards pivotally carried within the recess, packing strips overlapping the adjacent edges of the flashboards, whereby water will be prevented from passing the fiashboards, a pair of levers pivoted together in an offcenter fashion for holding the flashboards in a vertical position, said levers having their free ends connected to the flashboards and to the recess of the barrier, and means operable by water flowing over the flashboards for tripping the first mentioned means said means including a pivoted member adapted to cooperate with the flashboards for collecting a body of water and a pin or lug secured to the pivoted member for engaging the pivoted levers thereby tripping the same and allowing the flashboards and pivoted members to collapse in a down stream direction.

2. A dam construction of the character described, including a concrete or other material barrier adapted to extend across a stream or channel-way filled with water, said concrete barrier having a recess at the upper portion thereof, a series of flashboards mounted for swinging movement within the recess and extending from one end to the other end thereof, means for holding the flashboards in a vertical position comprising a pair of pivoted levers for each flash board connected together and having their free ends connected to the flashboard and to the bottom wall of the recess, a shelf projecting from the flashboard, a tripping lever device associated with each of the shelves and a tripping lug secured to the tripping lever adapted to engage one of the above mentioned pivoted levers for causing the flashboards to be collapsed upon overflow of the stream or body of water.

3. A dam construction of the character described, comprising a concrete or other kind of barrier extending across a stream or channelway of water, said barrier having a recess in the upper portion thereof, a series of flashboards pivotally secured to the top wall of the recess extending across the recess in a stepped fashion, packing strips overlapping the adjacent edges of the flashboards for preventing the passage of water therethrough, a shelf extending downstream secured to each of the flashboards, a pair of pivoted levers for holding each of the flashboards in a vertical position, one end of said levers being pivotally secured to the above mentioned shelf and the other pivoted lever being pivotally secured to the top wall of the recess, a plate mounted adjacent to each of the flashboards, said plate having a pair of pivot bars having their lower ends pivotally secured to the top wall of the recess, a shelf formed integral with each of the above mentioned plates adapted to overlap the first mentioned shelf, whereby a water chamber will be formed between the flashboards and plates and a lug secured to each of the plate supporting bars mounted in the path of the pivoted levers whereby filling of the water chambers by overflow of the flashboards will cause the fiashboards to be collapsed and release the body of water.

t. In combination with a dam having a recess, of a series of flashboards pivotally secured within the recess and extending across the same in a stepped fashion, means for holding the flashboards in a vertical position said means comprising a pair of pivoted levers for each flashboard, said levers being pivoted together and having their free ends pivoted to the flashboards and recess of the dam so that the levers may be moved from a locked position to a folding position and means operable by an overflow of the flashboards for causing the flashboards to be collapsed said means comprising a water receiving device adapted to cooperate with the flashboards to contain a body of water whereby the pivoted members will be moved away from the flashboards as the body of water increases and a lug carried by the pivoted members for engaging the pivoted lovers to move the same to a folded position.

5. In combination with a dam construction having a recess, of a series of flashboards pivotally mounted in the recess and extending across the same in a stepped fashion, a pair of pivoted levers for holding the flashboards in a vertical operative position said levers being capable of movement in downstream direction only and means operable by an overflow of the flashboards for releasing the pivoted levers whereby the flashboards may be collapsed said means comprising a pivoted member adapted to cooperate with the flashboards for containing a body of water and a lug carried by the pivoted memher for engaging the pivoted levers to trip the same upon the predetermined travel of the pivoted members.

6. In combination with a dam construction having a recess, of a series of flashboards extending across the recess way in a stepped fashion, packing strips overlapping the joints of adjacent flashboards whereby passage of water between the flashboards will be prevented, pivoted levers having one of their ends connected to the flashboards and their opposite ends connected to the recess said pivoted levers being slightly curved and capable of pivoted movement in a down stream direction, and means operable upon the overflow of water over the flashboards for tripping the pivoted levers and causing the flashboards to be collapsed said last named means comprising a pivoted member adapted to cooperate with each of the flashboards to form an expansible Water chamber and a plug carried by the pivoted member adapted to engage the pivoted levers for moving the same to a collapsed position upon predetermined increase of the water chamber formed by the pivoted members and the flashboards.

7. In combination with a dam construction having a recess, a spillway at one end of the recess, a plurality of flashboards arranged in the recess in such a manner that one of the flashboards will be slightly higher than the spillway top wall, an adjustable member associated with the top Wall of the spillway,

means for holding the fiashboards in a Vertical position and means for tripping the flashboards to cause the same to collapse whereby the body of water retained thereby may be released.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

ROWLAND RESCUE LUN. 

